News Broadcasting
65 mn Americans tune into Bush Kerry debate
MUMBAI: Last week’s first presidential debate for the upcoming US elections turned out to be a ratings bonanza for the US broadcast networks. Over 65 million viewers watched Thursday’s presidential debate.
In India the event aired live on CNN and BBC early Friday morning.
Reports indicate that the debate had 16 million more viewers than the first debate between Bush and Gore four years ago.
Data from Nielsen Media Research indicated that 62.5 million people tuned into the 90-minute debate on the major networks. One must keep in mind the fact that this figure did not include viewers of C-Span or public TV. When you include this the figure exceeds 65 million.
NBC, with 17.2 million viewers, topped the seven networks that aired the 90-minute debate, Nielsen said that 3.5 million tuned to CBS. Meanwhile 11.5 million viewers watched Disney’s ABC. Fox’s coverage was seen by 5.2 million. Fox News Channel was seen by a total of 9,561,000
CNN was seen by 4.4 million (versus 3.3 million in 2000) and MSNBC by 1.2 million (versus one million), according to Nielsen.
What was interesting is that the networks ignored Bush and Kerry campaign wishes that they not air reaction shots and President Bush’s occasionally peeved expression showed why they couldn’t resist.
C-Span’s chairman and CEO Brian Lamb was quoted in an AP report saying, “If you were in the audience and in the room, you got to see the reactions. Why shouldn’t the public?”
The second presidential debate is scheduled for 8 October. Fox will not televise that debate because of baseball playoffs.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
